BEnTroS
DATE:  5.Jul.97
TIME: 12:27

* G E N E R A L   D A T A *

Scient. name.....: Acacia nilotica
Family...........: Fabaceae
Plant height.....: 20
Color of flower..: YELLOW

H a b i t u s:
Short trunk with a round, dense low spreading crown; 
branchlets glabrous to tomentose, stipular spines up 
to 8 cm long, straight or deflexed.

C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s:
Tree of the plains, almost evergreen. Leaves are pinnae 
with 2-14 pairs, leaflets 7-36 pairs, 4x1 mm. flowers in 
bright yellow balls. Pod jointed, straight or slightly 
curved, oblong, 4-5 in. long, rounded at both ends, 
indehiscent, purple-brown with a whitish hairy bloom 
containing 8-15 seeds. Drytolerant, salttolerant, 
evergreen and strong light-demanding; annual rainfall 
between 200 - 2200 mm, broad spectrum of pH-value, even 
on alkaline soils; but most common on black cotton soil 
and alluvium subject to inundation. Even found in true 
desert climates. Restrained rooting ability. Maximum age 
30-40 years. Wood very hard.

R a n g e   o f   u s e:
Valuable species for agroforestry, afforestation and 
general erosion control in dry areas and often used 
as a contour vegetation strip, for hedging and windbreaks. 
Also cultivated as a shade tree in plantations and in 
special regions it is an important fodder tree. Pods and 
seeds but also the bark contain over 30 % of tannin and 
a red resin that can be used as a red dye. Gum arabic was 
probably first derived from A. nilotica, now mainly 
obtained from Acacia dudgeoni (Acacia senegal). The wood 
is heavy, durable and difficult to work and is used for 
building. On account of its resin it  resists to insects 
and water. All parts of the plant are officinal. Often 
associated with Tamarix and Prosopis. One of the most 
important species for afforestation in dry and arid climates.

L i t r a t u r e:
Dale, I.R. and Greenway, P.J. 1961; Irvine, F.R. 1961; 
Streets, R.J. 1962; Dalziel, J.M. 1936; Thulin, M. 1993; 
Rehm, S. and Espig, G. 1984; Lamprecht, H. 1986; 
Mansfeld, R. 1986; Grandjot, W. 1981; Duke, J. 1986; 
Baumer, M.; ICRAF 1987; Schultze-Motel, J. 1966; 
FAO, M. Leloup 1955; Mabberley, D.J. 1990; 
Carlowitz, Wolf, Kempermann 1991; ICRAF 1990; 
IAT, Universität Göttingen 1994

B I O L O G I C A L   E N G I N E E R I N G   D A T A
Erosion control.....: NO
Ground stabilisation: YES
Initial regreening..: YES
Reforestation.......: YES
Hedges/windbreaks...: YES
MPTS services.......: YES
Agroforestry........: YES
Other uses..........: 

* S P E C I A L   D A T A *

C O M M O N   N A M E S
Acacia … gomme
Acacia gommifera
Arabische Gummiakazie
Babul
Burguge
Gommier rouge
Gum arabic tree
Maraa
Mugunga
Tugaar

L I F E Z O N E S
St
Tt

R E G I O N S  O F  D I V E R S I T Y
African Region
Central Asian Region

H A B I T / S I T E
degraded soils
extreme dry soils
sand dunes

L I F E S T Y L E
tree

P R O P A G A T I O N
generative and vegetative
stem cuttings

U T I L I S A T I O N
bark
leaves
seeds
wood

B I O L O G I C A L  E N G I N E E R I N G
dry slope stabilization
erosion control
initial regreening

C O N S T R U C T I O N S
root ball planting
tree/shrub planting